Whether it's inside knowledge of a future product or purely speculation, electronics retailer Best Buy has made mention in a survey of a 42-inch high-definition Apple television set powered by iOS priced at $1,499.

The questionnaire notes that the Apple HDTV "finally reinvents what a TV can do," with a 1080p LED flat panel display, connectivity with iCloud, and the ability to use an iPhone or an iPad as a remote control. The "Customer Voice" survey from Best Buy was revealed by The Verge.

But the survey also makes mention of an "iSight" camera included in the anticipated television set, suggesting the details are simply speculation on the part of Best Buy. Since introducing FaceTime video chat, Apple has referred to its forward-facing cameras as FaceTime cameras, not iSight.

Another hit to the credibility of the survey comes in its mention of an integrated microphone, which the listing claims can be used for Skype, rather than FaceTime, Siri, or any other voice-enabled features built by Apple itself.

The survey was reportedly administered by Confirmit, a Norwegian research firm that Best Buy uses as a client. The full details from the survey follow:
The details of the Best Buy survey surfaced soon after a report last week said that the first prototypes of a full-fledged Apple television set are "in the works." Analyst Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray said a "major TV component supplier" told him that Apple had contacted them regarding various TV display components.

Rumors have suggested Apple plans to unveil its anticipated television set later this year, and that the hardware will feature Siri voice control, allowing users to easily navigate the device and access content without the need for a clunky, confusing remote control.

Reports of an Apple television began to pick up steam late last year when the authorized biography of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was released. Jobs told his biographer, Walter Isaacson, that he had "cracked" the secret to building an integrated, easy-to-use television set. He said the device "will have the simplest user interface you could imagine."

Jobs told Isaacson that the television market was one of three that he wanted to reinvent, along with digital photography and textbooks. Last month, Apple unveiled its initiative to reinvent the textbook with interactive titles on iBooks 2 for iPad.

I doubt they have that many details on a future Apple product, considering Apples secrecy. This is just a marketing survey to see what people respond to best. They might know a new product is coming, but not exactly what it's like.

$1499 is affordable to me since I paid that much about five years ago for a 42" Sony. 42 inches is about as much as I need in display size since my viewing distances are limited. I watch most of my TV via Slingbox on my 15.4" MacBook Pro, so if the AppleTV offers some easy programming choices, I'll go with it. I'm an Apple shareholder so basically when I buy it, it will be using Apple profits to buy the TV which works out perfectly to increase more Apple profitability.

I do realize I could get any decent high-end Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Panasonic or Sony TV, but I'm an Apple supporter and that's just how it will be. I hope Apple goes with that price and I'll bet they make a fortune on sales. I keep my TVs for at least ten years and $1499 over that period means almost nothing to me. If AppleTV offers their usual high-quality product, I don't see how I can go wrong. It will likely have built-in Airport streaming and should work with all my other Apple gear and it should be a breeze to set up. I'm all set for it.

You can get an absolutely fantastic 42" TV for way less than $999 that already includes Netflix AND Hulu Plus. Apple TV costs $99... I think even the most ardent Apple desciple will have a hard time justifying this, with no Hulu.

Whether it's inside knowledge of a future product or purely speculation, electronics retailer Best Buy has made mention in a survey of a 42-inch high-definition Apple television set powered by iOS priced at $1,499. ...

What a horrible article.

An entire article about a survey without actually telling us what the survey is about, or for.

Said survey is "based on" a fantasy productinvented by those doing the survey, which if you look it up, turns out to be a fairly typical thing to do that has been done many times before.

In previous examples, this fantasy product has never turned out to have any connection to any real product or rumoured real product. What are the odds that this one has any relevance beyond the fevered dreams of "some survey guy?"

$1499 is affordable to me since I paid that much about five years ago for a 42" Sony. 42 inches is about as much as I need in display size since my viewing distances are limited. I watch most of my TV via Slingbox on my 15.4" MacBook Pro, so if the AppleTV offers some easy programming choices, I'll go with it. I'm an Apple shareholder so basically when I buy it, it will be using Apple profits to buy the TV which works out perfectly to increase more Apple profitability.

I do realize I could get any decent high-end Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Panasonic or Sony TV, but I'm an Apple supporter and that's just how it will be. I hope Apple goes with that price and I'll bet they make a fortune on sales. I keep my TVs for at least ten years and $1499 over that period means almost nothing to me. If AppleTV offers their usual high-quality product, I don't see how I can go wrong. It will likely have built-in Airport streaming and should work with all my other Apple gear and it should be a breeze to set up. I'm all set for it.

TV's have dropped in price since then however.

I bought a 42" flat-screen Panasonic with all the bells and whistles including a high quality IPS panel and very good built in sound for $500 a couple of months ago. Another $99 for an Apple TV and it would match the specs of Best Buy's description for $900 less.

The value proposition isn't worth worrying about or even talking about though. This description is just a made-up thing by someone who doesn't even understand what the issues are with current TVs and has no clue what Apple's answer to that will be.

Also, as you yourself note, there are thousands of folks who will buy it just because it's from Apple and for that reason is likely to be the best TV they ever owned regardless of price.

And who the hell would trust them clowns at Best Buy?
Must be a slow a$$ news day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OllieWallieWhiskers

This. BestBuy will find out about it at the announcement just like the rest of us.

IT's not even Best Buy that made this up. It's some 3rd party company that has Best Buy as a client. My guess is that they were asked to do a survey on upcoming product (say the stuff that was announced at CES) to see what customers are thinking they might buy and the company put in this made up Apple created TV

There is no attempt to deceive with this exercise. Really, it's just getting feedback to determine where Best Buy might stand in terms of carrying a product like an Apple HDTV.

If Apple does bring out a TV, though, what it needs to do is avoid having this product's marketing mangled the way other manufacturers' products have been. The only way that the Apple product can succeed is if the product is displayed properly with quality source material because Apple will charge a premium and there has to be a perceived quality difference.

Right now the calibre of source material fed into TVs displayed in most retail settings is atrocious and even worse there is little attempt made to properly calibrate those TVs, even considering the environment they are displayed in. If Apple allows their TVs to be handled just as badly, the product will be an unqualified failure. Most consumers will not pay a premium for such a device displayed poorly alongside other products which will seem to have a similar quality but be a lot cheaper.

If this means only selling the Apple TV initially through the Apple Store network, clearly this is the way to go. Even if Best Buy wants a piece of this action, Apple should think twice about letting such retailers get any.

Best Buy wouldn't anymore about TV's than they do about what a bunch of idiots their Geek squad is.

I'd say, given most commenters have accurately observed that this was a fantasy product, invented to test client reaction, the idiot is not the Best Buy IT guy (who by the way has nothing to do with that survey). Leaves open the question "who's an idiot?"... and stop pointing at that mirror, you look dumb.

Social Capitalist, dreamer and wise enough to know I'm never going to grow up anyway... so not trying anymore.

So, how much for the 50"? and what about inputs and outputs? waiting with bated breath...

I'm open to argument, but as it stands there's no way on earth I'd pay that much for a 42 inch TV when I can get a very decent 51 inch for less than a thousand. Maybe if I was wealthy and had money to blow on incremental improvements? Anyone know more than I about what Apple could possibly offer that would be worth paying literally twice the price of a typical 42 inch tv?

I'd love to see another great Apple product, but I suspect that a TV that costs much more than the current TVs will have to do much more to justify the price.

Convincing consumers to pay more has always been the Apple way. While other laptop makers raced each other to the bottom, Apple held firm in the upper range of the laptop market and are flourishing with profit margin that is the envy of the industry.

People will pay more for perceived quality. The problem with today's TV market is that perceived quality differences are not there. That's partially because of the incompetence of retailers in displaying their products has wiped out whatever quality differences can be perceived in a retail setting. The $400 set looks just as good as the $1,000 set when you check it out at the store. Neither is being set up for optimal results and we have to remember that we have a large segment of the population who grew up watching horrible standard-dev pictures and thinking that was perfectly OK.

Even now, the quality compromises are disappointing. The Superbowl yesterday was marvellous. Great game. But the broadcast, seriously, it was awful. I realize there are restrictions in feeding up HD signals via cable or satellite but we shouldn't put up with such poor product.

The technology exists to make TV a great experience and we seem to not have the interest in implementing that technology to a high standard. My hope is that if Apple does enter this market, it will raise the bar.

Best Buy wouldn't anymore about TV's than they do about what a bunch of idiots their Geek squad is.

As an employee of Best Buy, and working in Geek Squad, I do apologize about your experience, but I take offense that you lump everybody in with that. For the most part, my experiences with customers are always very pleasant, professional, and productive. I get great feedback from my clients, and having a degree in an IT related field, feel I am very qualified for the job and advice that I give.

I am sure you are a superior human being compared to myself, though, simply because I work for Geek Squad. Whatever profession you work in (if any), undoubtedly has idiots in it, as well, and I would guess you wouldn't like me to lump you in with them, either.

There's nothing, with possible exception of iSight camera, that an AppleTV attached to an ordinary 40" TV can't do in exactly the same way, but for 500 hundred dollars less. Plus, I can upgrade to a better AppleTV for only $100, without the need to buy a whole new panel.

There's nothing, with possible exception of iSight camera, that an AppleTV attached to an ordinary 40" TV can't do in exactly the same way, but for 500 hundred dollars less. Plus, I can upgrade to a better AppleTV for only $100, without the need to buy a whole new panel.

I mean SERIOUSLY. When the argument against a TV is THIS simple to write out, you know there's something wrong with the idea.

as an employee of best buy, and working in geek squad, i do apologize about your experience, but i take offense that you lump everybody in with that. For the most part, my experiences with customers are always very pleasant, professional, and productive. I get great feedback from my clients, and having a degree in an it related field, feel i am very qualified for the job and advice that i give.

I am sure you are a superior human being compared to myself, though, simply because i work for geek squad. Whatever profession you work in (if any), undoubtedly has idiots in it, as well, and i would guess you wouldn't like me to lump you in with them, either.

+1...

Tim Cook is gay, believes in climate change, and cares deeply about racial equality. Deal with it (and please spare us if you can't).

As an employee of Best Buy, and working in Geek Squad, I do apologize about your experience, but I take offense that you lump everybody in with that. For the most part, my experiences with customers are always very pleasant, professional, and productive. I get great feedback from my clients, and having a degree in an IT related field, feel I am very qualified for the job and advice that I give.

I am sure you are a superior human being compared to myself, though, simply because I work for Geek Squad. Whatever profession you work in (if any), undoubtedly has idiots in it, as well, and I would guess you wouldn't like me to lump you in with them, either.

Don't take it hard. There are good and bad employees working with any company and as you point out, it could be that a bad experience is behind the comment in question. For all we know there is no experience behind the comment, just an urge to be dismissive just for the heck of it.

My beef is not with Best Buy or the Geek Squad or any specific electronics retailer. My concern is that the industry as a whole has dropped the HD ball by not stepping up its game in terms of presenting HD technology in a retail setting. I purchased my current set from a Big Box retailer but I have to say it was not the picture I saw on the display in-store that influenced my purchase. I wouldn't have given that retailer a dime for that model based on the horrible picture displayed in the store but once I got my set properly calibrated and fed it a quality signal, the results were very satisfying.

This is an opportunity for Apple to gain a foothold in this mature market. Present the Apple TV the right way and Apple will have an easy time convincing consumers to pay a premium for Apple's product. It's a failing on the part of competitors that gives Apple an opening.

I mean SERIOUSLY. When the argument against a TV is THIS simple to write out, you know there's something wrong with the idea.

The iSight camera is the biggest reason for this unity and I'm not even sure that's a big deal. We all hate wires but on a TV you set it and forget it. I would rather have a USB cable going from a low profile camera to the back of the AppleTV than pay an extravagant fee just to have a camera.

And I'm not even sure what the use would be. FaceTime? But how often does one use that? Sure, it would be nice to see family on the big screen but how would the camera work for a living room? It would have to be a high enough resolution with the ability to crop on the fly to lower the video packet size and/or have motors to be directional and zoom otherwise you might have to get into awkward locations for usage.

Then there is the issue of the mic on the TV near the speakers. Can they sufficiently cancel out the other end for volume that will have to carry throughout the living room? A remote with a mic (also needed for Siri) might have to be in play. I'm not sure this is viable.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

$1499 for a 42" LCD television when a 42" Plasma with undoubtedly superior picture can be had for $629? This Apple Television better come with a lifetime supply of free programming for that kind of dough.

I dont see the point of doing a TV set unless they merge the cable box into the smart TV interface. Anything less than that you will still have to deal with different remotes and different interfaces.

And if you still have to deal with many external devices, you are better off with a seperate Apple TV box that is easier to upgrade.

To transform the TV market into a more profitable market with faster product rotation, Apple needs to sell Tv's with plans, just like in the cell phone business. And in order to do that, they need to get in bed with the providers.

I dont see the point of doing a TV set unless they merge the cable box into the smart TV interface. Anything less than that you will still have to deal with different remotes and different interfaces. ...

You are ignoring the possibility that they will market the TV to those who don't care about cable.

I realise this concept is hard to imagine on a male dominated tech site just after the Super Bowl weekend, but I can assure you there are many people who don't care about "live TV" at all.

For example professional sports generally only appeals to about 51% of the public. The "news" hasn't really been worth watching (or really anything that could rightly be called journalism) for decades. Most news junkies get their news on the web. Everything else is easily replaced and mostly has already been replaced by services like iTunes, Netflix, etc.